Resumo

MINTY, Rehana. To use electronic assessment or paper-based assessment? That is the question (apologies to Shakespeare). IJTL [online]. 2018, vol.13, n.1, pp.17-27. ISSN 2519-5670.

This investigation, conducted in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) aimed to compare the results of an electronic assessment with a paper-based assessment on MS Excel in the module End User Computing (EUC) that equips students with the necessary computer literacy skills for the workplace. Three hundred and thirty-seven (337) students registered for the module EUC participated in this investigation. Students wrote two assessments, namely an electronic assessment followed by a paper-based assessment in a controlled environment. The same concepts were assessed in both assessments. The results of each assessment were captured and compared to establish how students performed in each of the assessments. What was evident in this investigation at one HEI, is that more students passed the paper-based assessment when compared to the electronic assessment. Both the merits and demerits of the electronic and paper-based assessments were highlighted, thereby concluding that neither method is superior to the other. Consequently, a 'blended' method of assessment is recommended since one method of assessment complements the other. Additionally, the blended method of assessment accommodates students with diverse abilities, thereby eliminating the possibility of disadvantaging some students. This investigation despite its limitations could pave the way for more in-depth studies to be conducted.

Palavras-chave : assessment; electronic assessment; paper-based assessment; End-User Computing; computer literacy skills; blended approach.

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